🚀 Release Notes - v0.21.0

⚠️ Hardfork Notice

This release includes a hard fork for the following chain:

Mainnet

• deposit_v8 activation
  Block: 25,902,000
  Estimated Time: 2026-05-05 08:37:15 UTC

• RANDAO activation
  Block: 25,905,600
  Estimated Time: 2026-05-05 09:49:14 UTC

⚠️ Action Required:
All validators and node operators must upgrade before the specified block heights to remain in sync with the network.

✨ Key Features

🧹 State Pruning

• Reduces on-disk state size
• Improves long-term node performance and storage efficiency

🎲 RANDAO Support

• Introduces decentralized randomness into consensus
• Enhances fairness and security of block production

🔄 Flexible Checkpoint Versioning

• Enables compatibility across multiple checkpoint formats
• Improves upgrade and recovery workflows

📦 Deposit Contract Upgrade (deposit_v8)

• Decoupled from legacy compiled contracts
• Improves modularity and upgradeability of staking logic

🧪 Pre-release Iterations

The following alpha versions were released prior to this mainnet upgrade:

• v0.21.0-alpha
• v0.21.0-alpha2
• v0.21.0-alpha3
• v0.21.0-alpha4

🔗 Full Changelog

v0.20.3...v0.21.0